Timberwolves vs. Pelicans Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets

The New Orleans Pelicans (42-39) will look to leading scorer CJ McCollum (20.9 ppg) when they aim to knock off the Anthony Edwards-led Minnesota Timberwolves (41-40) on April 9, 2023. The Pelicans are 2.5-point underdogs against the Timberwolves. The game’s over/under is 226.

Timberwolves vs. Pelicans Odds

• Timberwolves odds to win: -140
• Pelicans odds to win: +119
• Spread: Timberwolves (-2.5)
• Total: 226

Timberwolves vs. Pelicans Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• When: Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET
• Where: Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• TV: BSN and BSNO

Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Pelicans?

Timberwolves and Pelicans Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

The Timberwolves have an 11-20-2 record against the spread in games they were favored by 2.5 points or more this season.

In games this season in which they were an underdog by 2.5 points or more, the Pelicans have a 13-21-1 record against the spread.

The Timberwolves and Pelicans average 4.2 more points between them than the over/under of 226 for this matchup.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 2.4 more points per game, 228.4, than this matchup’s over/under of 226 points.

The average over/under the Timberwolves have had in their matchups this year is 5.7 more points than this particular game’s point total.

The average total in New Orleans’ games this year is 0.9 more points than the point total of 226 in this outing.

So far this season, Minnesota has compiled a 38-41-2 record against the spread.

The Pelicans’ ATS record is 39-40-2 this year.

Timberwolves Stats & Insights

The Timberwolves average 115.8 points per game (12th in the league) while allowing 115.9 per outing (18th in the NBA). They have a -8 scoring differential overall.

The Timberwolves fall short in the rebound battle by an average of 2.7 boards. They are pulling down 41.9 rebounds per game (23rd in the league) compared to their opponents’ 44.6 per contest.

Minnesota knocks down 12.1 three-pointers per game (14th in the league) compared to its opponents’ 12.4. It shoots 36.5% from deep while its opponents hit 37.1% from long range.

The Timberwolves put up 111.3 points per 100 possessions (23rd in the league), while giving up 111.2 points per 100 possessions (10th in the NBA).

The Timberwolves have scored at a higher clip at home than on the road in the 2022-23 season (116 at home versus 115.6 on the road), though they have surrendered fewer points at home than in road games (115.2 opponent points per home game versus 116.6 on the road).

Pelicans Stats & Insights

The Pelicans outscore opponents by 1.9 points per game (posting 114.4 points per game, 15th in league, and giving up 112.5 per outing, ninth in NBA) and have a +160 scoring differential.

The 43.6 rebounds per game New Orleans accumulates rank 12th in the league, 1.8 more than the 41.8 its opponents pull down.

The Pelicans make 11.1 three-pointers per game (22nd in the league), 1.1 fewer than their opponents.

The Pelicans score 111.9 points per 100 possessions (19th in league), while conceding 109.9 points per 100 possessions (sixth in NBA).

At home, New Orleans averages 114.9 points per game. Away, it scores 114.

Timberwolves Key Players to Watch

Edwards leads active Timberwolves players in scoring, tallying 24.6 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Mike Conley contributes with 11.8 points, 6.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game, and Rudy Gobert adds 13.6 points, 1.3 assists and 11.8 rebounds per matchup.

The Timberwolves get 2.7 three-pointers per game out of Edwards.

Edwards averages 1.6 steals per game, while Gobert swats 1.4 shots per contest.

Pelicans Key Players to Watch

McCollum’s showing this season has resulted in strong scoring and assists numbers, with 20.9 points per game and 5.8 assists per game to go with 4.4 rebounds per contest.

Jonas Valanciunas has per-game averages of 14.2 points, 1.8 assists and 10.1 rebounds this season.

McCollum knocks down 2.9 threes per game.

The Pelicans’ defensive effort gets a lift from Herbert Jones’ 1.5 steals and Valanciunas’ 0.7 blocks per game.

• Pick ATS: Pelicans (+ 2.5)
• Pick OU:

  Over (226)
  

• Prediction:
  Timberwolves 116 – Pelicans 114